U.S. Marshals Seize Cheese from Brunkow Cheese Facility

On May 13, 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, filed a complaint requesting that U.S. Marshals seize cheese products distributed by Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin, Inc. Brunkow, a company based in Darlington, Wisconsin, manufactures, packs, labels, and distributes a variety of cheese products.

The complaint alleged that in February 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration performed an inspection of the company’s facility and found evidence of rodent activity. FDA conducted a follow up visit at the end of April 2011 and determined that Brunkow had not resolved the rodent contamination problem. The complaint further alleged that the products are adulterated within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Today, FDA issued a press release stating that U.S. Marshals did, in fact, seize certain cheese products at the facility on May 17, and May 18, 2011.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rodents can transmit diseases both directly and indirectly. Specifically, Salmonella bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of rodents and can be transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with rodent feces.

Common Foodborne Pathogens

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Drew Falkenstein

Attorney

Drew Falkenstein received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Washington in 1999 and his Juris Doctor degree in 2002 from Seattle University School of Law, where he graduated with honors. READ MORE

Bill Marler

Attorney

Bill Marler is an accomplished personal injury lawyer and national expert on foodborne illness litigation. He began representing victims of food-borne illness in 1993, when he represented the most severely injured survivor of the Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak. Read More

Bruce Clark

Attorney

In 1993, Bruce Clark became involved in foodborne illness litigation as an attorney for Jack in the Box restaurants in its E. coli O157:H7 personal injury litigation. The Jack in the Box litigation spanned more than four years and involved more than 100 lawsuits in four states. READ MORE

Patti Waller

Epidemiologist

Patti Waller joined Marler Clark law firm in 2003 after working for twelve years in the Communicable Disease Program at the Washington State Department of Health. At the health department, Patti investigated food and water borne illnesses and outbreaks. READ MORE